Fast-Paced Selectman Campaign Takes Shape Following Death of Charles “Lopey” Rich-August 16, 1976

Candidates eyeing the board of selectmen seat left vacant by the August 6 death of Selectman Charles “Lopey” Rich face a tight timeline for the October 5 special town election. Town Clerk Bartley W. Connolly announced that nomination papers must be filed by August 31, requiring candidates to secure the signatures of 50 registered voters. Certified papers must be returned to the town clerk by September 7, with voter registration closing on September 15. The winner of the off-season election will serve the remainder of Mr. Rich’s term through the 1979 annual election.

With the brief moratorium on politicking out of respect for the late selectman coming to a close, several prominent figures have emerged as potential contenders:

• Allan D. Howard, former finance commissioner who was defeated by Mr. Rich in January, is the sole formally announced candidate.
• Thomas A. Riolo, chairman of the planning board, is firmly in the race, while his board colleague Thomas F. Cavanaugh indicated he is “pretty definitely running.”
• Paul Angelo, 30-year-old owner of the Olde Colonial Cafe on Savin Avenue and nephew of School Committee Chairman Richard Joseph, stated he plans to take out nomination papers.
• E. Peter Bamber, finance commissioner, noted that town charter restrictions bar him from simultaneously seeking another elective office without a ruling from town counsel.
• Moderator William J. Plasko remains “completely undecided,” while former selectmen Walter J. Dempsey and Olga Abdallah declined to discuss political plans out of respect for Mr. Rich

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger